Christmas Carols: Choose your style

Dickins' 'A Christmas Carol' is a holiday staple that's also a magnet for revision. Act One at DeSales University and Civic Theatre of Allentown present two quite different productions -- one very traditional and one very unique.

It's been a holiday tradition for 21 years at Civic Theatre of Allentown. Every year Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future come alive in a classic production of the classic Dickens tale .

Although some iconic scenes can't be tampered with, Civic Artistic Director William Sanders says he finds ways every year to keep the show fresh.

"I reread the book every year," says Sanders, who adapted the tale for Civic along with Sharon Lee Glassman, president of the Board of Directors. "I try to find places every year where I can change it up."

New this year is a solo song for Tiny Tim, the crippled son of Bob Cratchit. Tiny Tim is played by 11-year old Nazareth resident Christopher Singer .

Sanders says in Dickens' novel, Tiny Tim sings a song about a lost child travelling in the snow on Christmas Eve. So Sanders wrote lyrics and Justin Brehm, the music, for a short song in the style of the Victorian period .

Sander says he also likes to change the genders of the actors who portray the three ghosts who visit Ebenezer Scrooge to show him the sad life he has led and lead him to redemption.

"It all depends who comes out to audition for the parts," Sanders says. "Actors of different ages and genders are welcome to audition for the ghosts."

Of all the roles available for an actor in the Lehigh Valley, none carries more tradition and prestige than that of Scrooge. Scrooge is played by Tony Kohl of Emmaus, a 30 year-plus veteran of the Civic stage, who says he is "honored" to be returning to the role which he played in 2008.

Kohl, who was the stand-by for Glassman's Scrooge last year and stand-by again this year, stepped in when Sanders had to make a last minute cast change. London native Anthony Donnelly was originally cast as Scrooge but he was unable to make rehearsals.

While Glassman's Scrooge was acerbic and had a dry humor, Kohl's is slightly more innocent and unaware of the misery he's caused.

"Every actor brings his own personality to the character," says Sanders. "Tony's personality reflects his optimism and compassion, particularly effective in his transformation after the redemption scene."

One thing that never changes is the ever-growing number of community members who are a part of the show.

More than 130 people ages 6 to 68 portray Londoners and other residents in the show. Many of the children's roles are doublecast.

Multiple members of families show up in this year's cast. Mother and son Suzanne and Albert Nelthropp play Mrs. Cratchit and her son Peter, Tiny Tim's older brother . Several groups of brothers and sisters will be acting together.

"I am so honored to be a part of a work that is not only part of Civic history, but a part of the history of so many families," Sanders says. "We've grown from a cast of 31 to over 130.

While "Christmas Carol" is clearly a family show — and an important one, with its message that greed only brings misery — it can be a little scary, especially the chain-wearing Ghost of Jacob Marley and the silent Ghost of Christmas Future..

For many the highlight is the final scene — unique to Civic — in which nearly 80 of the cast members fill the stage to sing the carol "Angels, We Have Heard on High" by candlelight.

Sanders says that's one thing he will never change because the song and it's chorus of "Gloria" remind him of his late mother, Gloria, who loved the scene. He will always include it in her memory.

•Parking: Free parking along Liberty and Allen streets near 19th and in the Wachovia Bank parking lot at 19th and Liberty, after the bank is closed.

•Info: 610-432-8943 or http://www.civictheatre.com.

A NOVEL TAKE ON 'CHRISTMAS CAROL'

Clowns, masks, puppets and juggling are not usually associated with "A Christmas Carol." But the new production by Act One at DeSales University takes a very different approach to the classic tale, while remaining faithful to the story.

The fast-paced version is an adaptation by Doris Baizley, staged by director Wayne Turner for eight years at the Cleveland Playhouse. Turney even appeared as Scrooge in 1987.

"It was a huge hit," Turney says of the 90-minute show, that plays without intermission."It's avery fresh approach but true to the story."

This year Dennis Razze, chairman of the DeSales theater department, was looking for a way to tell the familiar holiday story in a new way and suggested Turney direct the offbeat show at DeSales.